(http://www.blandford.dorset.sch.uk)

What your child will

be learning in

Year 7

Parental Guide to the KS3 Curriculum

2011-2012

Dear Parents

The purpose of this booklet is to inform you of what your child will be learning

this year. We hope you will find it useful.

In addition to the timetabled curriculum, your child will have many

opportunities to get involved in extra-curricular activities, which we believe will

enrich and broaden their overall learning experience.

If you have any questions about the overall curriculum, or anything contained

in this booklet, please contact: Andrew Mead , Deputy Headteacher (phone:

01258 451121 ext. 213, or e-mail: amead@blandfordschool.org.uk). For

questions regarding individual subject content, please contact the staff listed

below:

Subject KS3 Co-ordinator E-mail address

English Miss F. Biggs fbiggs@blandfordschool.org.uk

Maths Mr J. Payne jpayne@blandfordschool.org.uk

Science Rev. T. Meachin tmeachin@blandfordschool.org.uk

Art Mrs G. Amey gamey@blandfordschool.org.uk

Dance Miss C. Kelly ckelly@blandfordschool.org.uk

Design & Technology Mr N. Pinch npinch@blandfordschool.org.uk

Drama Mrs B. Mutimer bmutimer@blandfordschool.org.uk

French Ms. D. Tregaskis dtregaskis@blandfordschool.org.uk

Geography Mrs J. Allan jallan@blandfordschool.org.uk

History Mr S Bailey sbailey@blandfordschool.org.uk

ICT Mrs K. Tylor ktylor@blandfordschool.org.uk

Music Mrs N. Fulker nfulker@blandfordschool.org.uk

PE Miss S. Gay sgay@blandfordschool.org.uk

PSRE Mrs T Stewart-Sykes tstewartsykes@blandfordschool.org.uk

Head of Year: Mrs R Rosoman (rrosoman@blandfordschool.org.uk)

Deputy Headteacher: Mr A Mead (amead@blandfordschool.org.uk)

The Blandford School

(http://www.blandford.dorset.sch.uk)

Key Stage 3 Curriculum 2011-2012

Year 7

What your child will be learning in:

English

Autumn Term: • Interviews

• Autobiographical writing

• Developing writing skills

• Novel - 'Holes' or 'Two Weeks with the Queen'

Spring Term:

• Poetry - Words and Images

• Novel - 'Holes' or 'Two Weeks with the Queen'

Summer Term

• Introduction to Shakespeare - 'Twelfth Night'

• Media: The Language of Advertising

Maths

Autumn Term

• Sequences

• Integers and Decimals

• Area , Volume and Nets

• Fractions, Decimals and Percentages

• Handling Data & Probability

• Equations, Expressions + Formula

Spring Term

• Lines, Angles, Shape & Coordinates

• Collect, Represent + Analyse data

• Integers and Decimals

• Linear Functions & Graphs

• Constructions

• Ratio & Proportion

• Solving Equations

Summer Term

• Transformations

• Averages, Charts & Comparing Data

• Number Review

• Algebra Review

• Shape Review

Useful English Websites:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/12/

best-childrens-books-twelve-years-over

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-

entertainment/books/news/the-50-books-every-

child-should-read-2250138.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesize/english

Useful Maths Websites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesiz

e/maths/

www.mymaths.co.uk (students will be given

their own personal username and password)

Science

(Rotation of these topics)

• Tissues and transplants

• Sex and Science

• Ecology matters

• Classified

• Acids and Alkalis

• Bubbles, bangs and burning

• What a waste!

• Materials from the Earth

• Energy and sustainable living

• Electrical Circuits

• Forces and their Effects

• Solar System and Beyond

Art

First Steps – Dry Media

• Observational drawings of footwear

• Exploring markmaking

• Exploring a variety of media like; pencil crayon, charcoal, felt pens, pencil

• Investigating how other artists create marks on their works. This includes; Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso,

Andy Warhol, Michael Craig, Georges Seurat.

Walking With Colour – Wet Media

• Colour theory

• Abstract work linking to our senses

• Exploring how artists work with colour like; Wassily Kandinsky,

Frans Marc, Delauney, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso,

Medieval Art

• Questioning our cultural heritage.

• Investigating Church architecture

• Developing an idea for a gargoyle

• Students will then make a gargoyle in clay looking at texture, modelling, forming, impressing and

other clay techniques.

Personal Learning Task – TOYS

Students will find an artist who has worked with their chosen subject matter. They will consider how the artist

has used texture, detail, colour, form, tones in their work, so that they can use this in their own final piece of

work..

(Carousel of topics)

Autumn

term

AUTUMN

Term 1

AUTUMN Term

2

SPRING

Term 1

SPRING

Term 2

SUMMER

Term 1

SUMMER

Term 2

Year 7

Names

PIT,RIL,

AME,

PIT - Markmaking

shoes and Seurat

RIL – Mark

making shoes and

Seurat

AME – The Sea-

Printmaking

PIT -Bugs n

Beetles

RIL – Gargolyes

AME- Mark

Making - shoes

PIT -

Gargoyles

RIL – Bugs

n’ Beetles

AME – Pop

Art

PIT POP art –

RIL – Pop Art

AME -

Gargolyes

PIT The Sea -

PRINTING

RIL – The sea

AME- Bugs n

Beetles

Filler – Teddy

bears /soft toys

OBSERVATIONAL

DRAWING-

(Personal Learning

and Thinking

Skills)

Useful Science Websites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools

/ks3bitesize/science

Design and Technology

(Carousel of topics)

Drama

Autumn Term

• Practitioners and Technique: Laying Foundations.

• Students are given a ‘tool box’ to devise their own pieces of

drama, including the use of tableau, mime, movement and effects.

Spring Term

• Theatre in different times and cultures: Greek Theatre

• Students examine the origins of Theatre and try out some ancient technique such as choral speaking,

using masks and mime.

• Practitioners and Technique: An introduction to Stage Combat

• Students learn basic stage combat techniques such as the ‘knap’, the ‘clap slap’ and a basic fall.

Summer Term

• Working with text: Improvisation from text.

• Students use different stimulus texts to form, devise and script their own drama.

• Issue based Drama: The child who didn’t want to go to school.

• Using the poem ‘The Playground’, students use drama to explore the issue of bullying at school.

Dance

The emphasis on Dance at key stage three is one of fun and creativity. Designed to improve skill level and self-

esteem the curriculum leads pupils in creating works that develop their choreography, performance and

evaluation skills. Its structure consists of three different units of work per year and covers genres such as:

· Urban Dance

· Contemporary

· Contact Work

· Hip Hop

Students can also get involved in extra-curricular work such as dance clubs,

school productions, dance performances and exam work for older years.

French

Autumn Term

• Personal identification information

• Talking about family and pets

• Talking about where you live

• Telling the time

• Christmas traditions in France

Electronic Products Food Technology Product Design Textiles technology Computer Aided

Design

Moisture tester Healthy Eating Mechanical

Monster

Green Shopping

bag

Monster Greetings

card

Investigation of basic

electronics and

making of a soil

testing device

Research into and

designing and

making healthy

meals

Investigations into

motions and

making of a cam

and follower

Environmentally

friendly shopping

bag

A greetings card

using 2D computer

aided design

Useful French Websites:

www.linguascope.com

www.atantôt.com

Spring Term

• Talking about places in town

• Buying things in a café

• Discussing your daily routine

• Talking about school

• Easter traditions in France

Summer Term

• Freetime activities

• Use of key verbs

• Work on topical sporting events

Geography

Autumn Term

Introduction to Geography

• What is Geography?

• How do we find out about Geography?

Location, Location, Location

• How well do you know the UK?

• Describing where places are.

What are Settlements?

• What is a settlement?

• How do we decide where to build settlements?

Rivers and People

• The journey of the River Stour.

• Why do rivers flood? Can we stop rivers flooding?

Mapskills introduced

Spring Term

What’s Our Weather Like?

• What is ‘weather’?

• Why does the weather of the British Isles change so quickly?

Understanding ‘Climate’

• Are ‘climate’ and ‘weather’ the same thing?

• Why isn’t the climate the same all over the British Isles?

Ecosystems

• What are ecosystems?

• The world’s largest ecosystems (biomes)

Looking After Special Places

• What are ‘National Parks?

• Why did the New Forest become a National Park?

Summer Term

Development Issues.

• Where is Ghana, what is Ghana like? Why is Ghana an LEDC?

Environmental Quality Survey

• What are sustainable environments? How sustainable are we?

Useful Geography Websites:

www.ciaworldfactbook.com

www.mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

www.googlemaps.com

www.dorsetforyou.com

www.bbc.co.uk

www.education.nationalgeographic.com

Other sites will be recommended.

History

Autumn Term

Introduction

• What is History?

• Mystery of the Skeletons

A quick history of Britain before 1066

• The Roman Empire

• Was Hannibal a good leader?

• Why did the Romans want an Empire?

• Roman Army Enquiry

• Arguing about the Roman Empire

The Norman conquest 1066

• Claims to the English throne

• Strengths of each army

• Battle of Hastings

How did William gain control of England?

• Castles

• Feudal system and taxes

Spring Term

A quick history of weapons and armour

• Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt

What was life like in a Medieval village?

• Wharram Percy

Ordinary Life. Guide Book Challenge

• Group ICT/ research task:

� Fun/Homes/Farming/Towns/Travel/Keeping clean/Sickness/Punishments/Freedom/Religion

Rats or Rebels? Which was more significant?

• How did the Black Death change Allton?

• Writing a Black Death story

• Were the rebels heroes or villains?

• Which was more significant?

Summer Term

• How religious were people in the Middle Ages?

• Who and What were pilgrims?

� Story of Thomas Becket

• Why did Henry break away from Rome?

� Henry’s divorce

� Criticisms of the catholic church

• Why did Henry close down the monasteries?

• What have you learned?

ICT

Autumn Term

• File management and Introduction to School Network

• Presentations – Powerpoint and Mediator Portfolio

• Spreadsheets and Modelling - Hogwalks

Spring Term

• Using Moviemaker - E-safety

• Using the Internet

Useful History Websites:

http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/1

1_16/site/history.shtml

Summer Term

• Data handling – Who Done It Murder Mystery

• Data gathering and Presentation - Presenting Weather Information

Music

Autumn Term

• Exploring Music & Listening

Formal Composing

Listening

Informal

Performing

Singing

Improvising

Understanding

• Voices In Layers

Formal Performing

Informal

Composing

Singing

Improvising

Understanding

Spring Term

• Beat It! Percussion Mix

Formal Composing

Informal

Performing

Singing

Improvising

Understanding

Summer Term

• Ragtime

Formal Composing

Informal

Performing

Singing

Improvising

Understanding

• Solo Performance

Formal Performing Solo

Informal

Understanding

Listening

Students are encouraged to use instruments that they learn inside and outside of school in their lessons

PE

• Rugby (Boys) / Netball (Girls)

• Problem Solving

• Net/Wall games (e.g. badminton/volleyball)

• Gymnastics

• Invasion games (e.g. basketball/football)

• Fitness

• Athletics

• Striking/Fielding games (e.g. cricket/rounders)

PSRE

Autumn Term

• What is RE

• Religious Environment (Christianity and Hinduism)

• Sex and Relationship Education

• Buddhism and Suffering

Spring Term

• Life of Guru Nanak

• Life of Jesus

Summer Term

• Life after Death (Christian, Hindu and Humanist)

• Drugs Education

Useful PSRE Websites:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools

/websites/11_16/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion

/religions/buddhism/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion

/religions/christianity/

Year 7 Homework Timetable Students at The Blandford School are encouraged to become independent learners. We believe homework supports this. If, for any reason, homework is not set, students are encouraged to spend their ‘homework time’ reading or undertaking activities on our VLE (FROG) or other excellent subject-specific websites (to which your teachers will direct you).

Week A L1 L2 L3 R1 R2 R3

Monday French Science

English French

RE

English French

English Maths

Science

Science Maths

Maths Science

Tuesday Maths English

Maths Science

Maths Science

French

ICT French

Geography

History Maths French

Wednesday Drama

RE History

French Geography

Art

Art

Music English English

Thursday English Maths

Geography

Maths History

Geography Maths

RE

Geography Design Science

Design Science

Geography Design Music

Friday Art

Science English Science

English ICT

Science

Maths English History

English RE

Maths

Science English Maths

Week B L1 L2 L3 R1 R2 R3

Monday Maths Music

English Maths

Geography

Maths ICT

Drama

Maths RE

Maths Science

RE Maths

Tuesday French History

French Music

French Music

Geography Art

Music Geography

Wednesday Science Science Music History

English Science

Maths

Science French

History French

History French

Thursday English Design

Geography

Art Drama Design

Design Geography

English

RE

Maths English

ICT

ICT Maths

English

Friday

Maths ICT

ICT Maths

Maths History Science

Drama History

Drama History

Geography

Science Art

Drama